Letters: Remembering the true meaning of Christmas

Dec. 25 – the birth of a baby in a stable manger. What are we truly celebrating this Christmas morning? Lying in this feeding trough is the greatest gift God could give to his creation.

This child fulfilled many Jewish scripture prophecies at his birth. This baby Jesus came to the world in the “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), revealed by angels and a supernatural star (Numbers 24:17) to both lowly shepherds and then later to kings. He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). In the genealogy recorded by Matthew, this babe is the fulfillment of several prophecies being from the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3), Isaac (Genesis 26:4), Jacob (Genesis 28:14), Judah (Genesis 49:8–12), Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), and David (Isaiah 9:7).

After the Magi (kings) met with King Herod, he ordered the slaughter of all children under the age of 2 within the vicinity of Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15. With the urging of the Magi, Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt, fulfilling the prophecy of Hosea 11:1. Upon returning to Israel, they ended up living in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1.

From his birth until his death, Jesus identified with his full humanity. We know little of his life before he started his ministry around the age of 30. We do know that he lived the life of a laborer – a carpenter, like his father. We know that his heart ached for the pain and suffering around him, even as he was healing the sick and raising the dead. We know that he experienced the worst pain a human could suffer – the pain of crucifixion. We know that he came and he gave and he died to enable each of us to know his healing message and his healing touch as we await the second phase of our existence – eternal life in a world without pain and with indescribable joy.

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Jesus is the only religious leader who was foretold by the prophets, fulfilled 333 prophecies, lived a sinless life, died without justice or cause, rose from the dead and upon his death, “many of God’s people who had died were raised from death. They came out of the graves. And after Jesus was raised from death, they went into the holy city and many people saw them.” (Matthew 27:52-53)

This small child became the definition of history (his story). In the Western World he cut time into two parts (B.C. and A.D.). Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32). His life is the driving force behind modern education, modern medicine, respect for private property, the abolition of slavery, the equality of sexes and the foundation of our Republic as expressed in the Declaration of Independence where the God of the Bible is mentioned five times.

So this Christmas season let us celebrate with our Christmas trees that are adorned with the lights of heaven and topped with the star of Bethlehem. May we join in the fun of the original Greek St. Nicholas, who, motivated by the love of Christ, dropped bags of coins and gifts in the windows of the poor? May we celebrate most the greatest gift of all – the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who through his life, death and resurrection – showed us the way to eternal life – faith in his free gift of forgiveness – taking upon himself, our penalty on the cross and giving us the assurance that we are destined to be with him forever.